Sailboat



1,613, 90 11 1927' L. F. HERRESHOFF 8 SAIL BQA'I Filed Dec. 11, 1925 3 Sheet's-Shaet 1 Jan. 11 1927.

1,613,890 L. F. HERRESHOFF SAIL BOAT Filed Dec. 11 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

fl; ATTORNEY.

Jan. 11 1927.

| F. HERRESHOFF SAIL son Filed Dec. 11,

1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 l NV EN TOR.

6 ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 11, 1927.

UNITED STATES 1,613,890 PATENT OFFICE.

LEWIS FRANCIS HERB-BEIGE], 01' BRISTOL, BHO DI ISLAND.

SAILBOA'I'.

Application flied December 11, 1925, Serial lilo. 74,728.

This invention relates to various types of sailing craft, hereinafter referred to as sail boats, and is more especially concerned with such craft designed for racing purposes.

The invention has for its chief ob ect to improve the mast and sail construction of sail boats with a view to increasmg their efliciency.

The nature of the invention will be readily understood from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out ll]. the appended claims.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a ;perspective view of a sail boat embodying is invention;

Figs. 2 and 3 are diagrammatic views, partly in cross-section, showing the position of the sails and mast in tacking;

. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional perspective view illustrating certain details of the mast construction and the means for securing the stays and sails thereto;

ig'. 5 is a vertical, cross-sectional view through the step bearing for the mast- Fig. 6 is a horizontal cross sectiona view showm another method of fastening the sail to are mast; and

Fig. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view through the hearing at the lower end of the spar which serves as a stay for the mast.

Referring first to Fig. 1, the hull of the boat there shown is indicated at 2, the mast at 3, and the main sail at 4. This sail is divided at a point some distance aft and the mast 3 into two vertically disposed sections or wings a and 6, Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive. These wings extend the entire height of the sail, and, their forward edges are spaced apart and secured to the mast at opposite sides thereof. Referring to Figs. 1 and 4 it will be seen that the forward edge of the wing a is tied or lashed at intervals to slides 6 and also to the luff rope 5, the slides 6 being arranged to run freely on a track or rail 7 which is secured to the after side of the mast 3. The wing b is similarly secured to slides 8 which run on a track 9. As the wings a and b extend aft they converge, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, and their after edges are joined to the forward ed e of another wing 0 along the line or seam indicated at 10, Fig. 1, the three parts a, b and 0 constituting the main sail.

By dividing the sail as above described,

and joining the forward ed s.of the two sections or wings thereof to t e so that they are substantially flush with the opposite sides ofthe mast, a substantially smooth stream line surface is presented to the action of the wind, the eddyin of the wind around the mast is eliminate and a more eflicient arrangement is provided.

In furtherance of this result, the mast also preferably is given a stream line shape. That is, it has a relatively thin forward edge, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and the olpposite sides diverge from each other as t iey extend aft so that in cross-section it resembles the bow portion of a boat. Such a construction ofi'ers less resistance to the wind, and cooperates with the divided sail in presenting to the wind a smooth substantially continuous surface uninterrupted by obstructions or irregularities around which the wind would edd The mast may either be made solid, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, or hollow, as shown in Fig. 4. 4

Inorder to further increase the efiiciency of the sell and mast, I prefer'to mount the mast so that it can swing with the sail about an axis extending longitudinally thereof. For this purpose the mast is su ported ID a step hearing which preferab y 15 of the ball type as shown at 12 in Fig. 5, and it is held in its upright osition by stays or shrouds which permit t e mast to turn n the bearing 12. The mast is supported in its fore and aft position by a forestay conslsting of a spar 14, Figs. 1 and 4, which connects the meet with the bow of the boat and acts both as a strut or com ression member and also as a tension mem er. Shrouds or stays 15 and 16, Fig. 1, support the mast latera l' Any suitable means may be used for connecting the spar and stays to the mast, but as shown they are all secured to a fitting 17, Figs. 1 and 4, which is bolted to the mast. The two stays 15 and 1'6 are secured to shackles provided onthe opposite sides of thls fittm A member 20 is secured to the upper en of the spar 14 and is ivoted, by means of a bolt 21, to an ear or ug 19 projecting from a sleeve 18 which pivots on the bolt that secures'the fitting 17 in place. This construction supports the mast securely in its operative posit1on,and at the same time permits the mast to swing freely with the sail in tacking, or as its position changes due to the sail adjusting itself to the wind.

Since the spar 14 is adapted to take both compression and tension, it efl'ectually supports the mast in its fore and aft position and eliminates the necessity for a back stay. It should he observed that the mast is so supported that the axis about which it iv: ots is located at the forward side or lea ing edge of the mast. Consequently, the mast automatically takes such a position, as it swings with the sail, that its thin forward edg iiis always presented to the wind.

e spar 14 supports a jib 22 which is made like the main sail 4, and it preferably is made of the same cross sectional form as the mast In order to permit this spar to swin ith the jib 22, in tackin it is provide at its opposite ends with ball bearmg swivels so that it can swing freely about its longitudinal axis. The upper swivel is shown in Fig. 4 and comprises a fitting 24 secured directly to the upper end of the spar 14. The part 20, above referred to, is secured on the u per end of a post or shaft 25 having a dis 26 rigidl secured thereto or integral therewith, an this disk rides on upper and lower sets of balls 27 and 28, respectively, all of these parts being mounted within the fitting 24. A sleeve 29 has a head which is threaded into the upper end of the part 24 and may be adjusted to afford the desired amount of. play or clearance in the ball bearings. Entrance of water into the bearing is prevented by a sleeve 30 of rubber, or other flexible waterproof material, which is secured to the parts 20 and 29, as clearly shown in Fig. 4.

A similar construction, shown in Fig. 7, is emplo ed at the lower end of the spar 14. This en of the spar is provided with a slotted metal tip designed to be pivoted to an ear 31 which is formed on the upper end of a swivel 0st 32. This post is secured rigidl to a aring disk or plate 33 which runs tween upper and lower sets of balls 34 and 35, respectively, these balls and the disk being mounted in a suitable housing 36 which is designed to be bolted to thedeck or fore timbers of the boat. A cap 37 is threaded into the housing 36 and may be adjusted to give the ball bearings 34 and 35 the desired amount of play. Water is exeluded-from the housing by a rubber sleeve 38 similar to the sleeve 30 above described. The swivels permit the spar to turn freely with the jib as the latter swings, this movement taking place without interfering in any way with the function of the spar as a strut or stay for the mast.

As above stated, both the main sail and the jib and the mast and spar which support them, are shaped to present smooth and substantially continuous surfaces to the action of the wind. The mounting of the mast and spar so that they can pivot freely about axes extending longitudinally of them in securing the two sections of the .main

sail to the mast 3 is illustrated in Fi 6 where the track 40 for the slides 41 to w ich the wing a is secured, is set into a groove 42 formed in a corner of the mast 3. This groove is partly closed by plates 43 and 44 secured, respectively, to one side and the rear of the mast so that only a relatively narrow slot is provided through which the ed e of the sail 0 projects.

While I have herem shown and described the best embodiment of my invention that I have so far devised, it will be evident that the invention may be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit or sco e thereof.

aving thus described my invention, what I desire to claim as new is:

1. In a sail boat, the combination of a must, said mast having a relatively thin forward edge and increasing in cross-sectional width as it extends afta a sail comprising 7 two upright wings space apart at their forward edge and oined together at a considerable distance a from the mast, and means for connecting the forward edges of said wings to the mast a proximately flush with the opposite sides ereof, said means permitting the raising and lowering of the sail relatively to the mast.

.2. In a sail boat, the combination of a mast said mast having a relatively thin forwar edge and increasing in cross-sectional width as it extends aft a sail comprising two upright spaced apart at their forward edges and oined together at a considerable distance a from the mast, two tracks secured to the after side of said mast at opposite ed a thereof, and slides runnin on said trace; and securing the forward ges of said wings to the respective tracks.

3.'In a sail boat, the combination of a mast, a sail supported by said mast, a step bearing an porting sai mast, means for holding sai mast 1n its fore and aft position comprising a spar connecting said mast with the forward part of the boat, a pivotal connection between the forward side of said mast and the upper end of said spar, and stays fastened to said connection and supporting the mast laterally.

4. In a sail boat, the combination of a mast, a sail supported by said mast, a step bearing supporting said mast, a spar con necting said mast with the forward part of the boat and holding themast in its fore and aft position, swivel connections at the opposite ends of said spar, and ajib supported by said spar.

5. In a sail boat, the combination of a mast of stream line cross-sectional form, and a sail su ported by said mast and adapted to be raised or lowered relatively thereto, said sail comprising two wings, the forward edges of which are spaced apart and fastened to the mast at opposite sides thereof, said wings converging as they extend aft said being joined together at their after e es.

6 In a sail boat, the combination of a mast of stream line cross-sectional form, said mast having a thin forward edge, a sail supported by said mast at the after surface thereof, and means for supporting said mast for free pivotal movement about an axis extending therealong forwardly of the center of the mast, whereby the mast can swin freely about said axis with the sail and wi t automatically present its thin forward edge to the wind.

7. In a sail boat, the combination of a mast of stream line cross-sectional form, said mast having a thin forward edge, a sail supported by said mast, a step bearing supporting said mast for free pivotal movement about an axis extending thereaiong forwardly of the center of the mast, and a spar holding said mast in its fore and aft position.

8. In a sail boat, the combination of a mast of stream line cross-sectional form said mast havin a thin forward edge, a sai supported b said mast, a step bearing supporting sai mast for free pivotal movement about an axis extending longitudinal ly of the mast, whereby the mast can swin automatically about said axis with the sai a spar connecting said mast with the forward part of t e boat and holdin the mast in its fore and aft position, sai spar being of stream line cross-sectional form, a 111) supported by said spar, and'swivel bearmg supporting said s ar for movement about an axis extending ongitudinally thereof and permitting it to swing about said axis with the jib.

9. In a sail boat, the combination of a mast of stream line cross-sectional form, a sail supported by said mast and adapted to be raised or lowered relatively thereto, said sail comprising two wings, the forward edges of which are spaced apart and fastened to the mast at opposite sides thereof, said wings converging as they extend aft and being joined together at their after edges, said mast having a thin forward edge, and means for supporting said mast for free ivotal movement about an axis extending t erealong whereby the mast can swing freely about said axis with the sail and will automatically present its thin forward edge to the wind.

LEWIS FRANCIS HERRESHOFF.

necting said mast with the forward part of the boat and holding the mast in its fore and aft position, swivel connections at the opposite ends of said spar, and a jib supported by said spar.

5. In a sail boat, the combination of a mast of stream line cross-sectional form, and a sail su ported by said mast and adapted to be raised or lowered relatively thereto, said sail comprising two wings, the forward edges of which are spaced apart and fastened to the mast at opposite sides thereof, said wings converging as they extend aft and being joined together at their after edges.

6. In a sail boat, the combination of a mast of stream line cross-sectional form, said mast having a thin forward edge, a sail supported by said mast at the after surface thereof, and means for supporting said mast for free pivotal movement about an axis extending therealong forwardly of the center of the mast, whereby the mast can swin freely about said axis with the sail and will automatically present its thin forward edge to the wind.

7. In a sail boat, the combination of a mast of stream line cross-sectional form, said mast having a thin forward edge, a sail supported by said mast, a step bearing supporting said mast for free pivotal movement about an axis extending therealong forward- 1y of the center of the mast, and a spar holding said mast in its fore and aft position.

8. In a sail boat, the combination of a mast of stream line cross-sectional form said mast havin a thin forward edge, a sail supported b said mast, a step bearing supporting sai mast for free pivotal movement about an axis extending longitudinaL 1y of the mast, whereby the mast can swing automatically about said axis with the sail, a spar connectin said mast with the forward part of the boat and holdin the mast in its fore and aft position, sai spar being of stream line cross-sectional form, a ib supported by said spar, and'swivel hearing supporting said 5 at for movement about an axis extending ongitudinally thereof and permitting it to swing about said axis with the jib.

9. In a sail boat, the combination of a mast of stream line cross-sectional form, a sail supported by said mastand adapted to be raised or lowered relatively thereto, said sail comprising two wings, the forward edges of which are spaced apart and fastened to the mast at opposite sides thereof, said wings converging as they extend aft and being joined together at their after edges, said mast having a thin forward edge, and means for supporting said mast for free pivotal movement about an axis extending t erealong whereby the mast can swing freely about said axis with the sail and will automatically present its thin forward edge to the wind.

LEWIS FRANCIS HERRESHOFF.

Certificate of Correction.

Patent'No. 1,613,890.

Granted January 11, 1927, to

LEWIS FRANCIS HERRESHOFF.

It is hereby mentioned certified that error appears in the printed specification of the aboveatent requiring correction as follows: Page 1, line 36, for the word and rea o and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correc tion therein t at the same may Oflice.

conform to the record of the case in the Patent Signed and sealed this Stlnday of March, A. D. 1927.

M. J. MOORE, Acting Uommasiomr of Patents.

Certificate of Correction.

Patent No. 1,613,890. Granted January 11, 1927, to

LEWIS FRANCIS l'l ERR-B51101 F.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the abovementioned patent requiring correction as follows: Page 1, line 36, for the word and read 0 and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein t at the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Offioe.

Signed and sealed this 8th day of March, A. D. 1927.

[SEAL] M. J. MOORE,

Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

